[Part III] Why Your Software Should Focus on Less Code

Every big computing disaster has come from taking too many ideas and putting them in one place. – Gordan Bell

More features + lower price = sales, right? Seems logical…but it’s not always true. At best, it’s a half truth. Do you want to pump all of your time and money into a half true approach? I didn’t think so, and you don’t have to put all that money in (time, hell yes, but like we discussed in the previous section, not time coding).

When we can’t code, less is more. Here is why I highly suggest you keep your projects small:

1. More code = more bugs = more ongoing overhead

Have you ever seen the movie “Christmas Vacation” with Chevy Chase? There is a classic scene where Clark Griswald (Chevy Chase) decks his house out with an insane amount of Christmas lights. When it is time to cut the lights on, they don’t work. With that many lights, there are a lot of bulbs to check…

2. More code = more time to launch = missed opportunity

Regardless of what you’ve been taught, being first to market does matter…a lot.

You can’t just find a tool and improve it anymore. That works, but it is ideal to have a great product launch and become the name in the market. Better options will come and even at cheaper prices, but the first to market has a lasting advantage.

Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of opportunity in improving existing products BUT if you have an idea you know will serve your audience and it isn’t yet met, speed to market matters.)

3. More code/feature = lower quality of each

Inside every large program, there is a small program trying to get out. -C.A.R Hoare

Do you eat your steak with a Swiss Army knife? Probably not. More features doesn’t mean better functionality or a better experience.

By becoming the best at one thing, you separate yourself from the pack and will outsell cheaper/more feature dense software.

4. More code = slower software

A software with less code can run faster (all things being equal.) We live in an era of speed. No one wants a slow software!

5. More code = lower chance of launching

The entrepreneurs I consult with in regards to software typically share one common trait if they haven’t launched their software ideas -> it is too big!

Nate McCallister

Nate is the founder and main contributor of EntreResource.com. He is a lifestyle entrepreneur who spends his time building businesses and raising his two kids Sawyer and Brooks with his beautiful wife Emily. His main interests include copywriting, economics and piano.